Hello and welcome to my stop on the Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia! Almost 200 people in the LGBTQ writing community have banded together to celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia and raise awareness, acceptance, and love around the world.
Everyone is running their own giveaways in this hop, and mine is a $25 donation to The Trevor Project in the winner’s name, along with a $10 All Romance eBooks gift card. I considered offering some Trevor Gear, but don’t want to exclude my international friends. Check out the end of the post for ways to enter.
I really didn’t know what to post about for such an important event. Usually at big events I’m the quiet one in the corner, observing. But that’s not exactly what I signed up for. This is the sixth post I’ve written for this hop. The others weren’t bad, but they were all too something: too personal, too political, too sad or too angry.
So instead of any of that, I’m going to shine the light on one of the most important groups I know of: The Trevor Project. I wish they were local so I could volunteer, but I’ll have to settle for sharing their Lifeline number and their message, and sending money.
Many kids, regardless of orientation, experience a time when things seem too hard, too big, too impossible to overcome. Even though it’s wonderful to be unique, it’s not always easy to be different. It can feel like nobody cares, or like nobody has ever gone through anything so awful. I’ve been there myself. When you’re in crisis, it’s hard to feel anything but horrible and hopeless.
But you’re not alone. Someone cares. The volunteers at The Trevor Project are always there to listen. They care. The people who give money to keep the phone lines open care. The team keeping the web site up and running, they care. Even if they don’t know you, they care what happens to you.
Parents and friends of LGBTQ youth—let the young people in your life know you care. Even if they seem to be handling things okay, everyone needs help sometimes. The strongest kids can break the hardest and with the least warning. Texts, phone calls, hugs—don’t let someone you care about forget you’re there.
Thanks, everyone, for getting this far with me, and for participating in the Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia. To enter my giveaway for a $25 donation in your name to The Trevor Project and a $10 All Romance eBooks gift card, leave a comment with your e-mail address and a suicide prevention hotline number or similar resource serving LGBTQ youth or seniors in your local area (worldwide). I want to compile a list and make it available 24/7 on my Resources page. Because even though the greatest sign of strength is asking for help, you have to know who to ask.
For more entries, follow my blog, Like my FB Author Page, catch up with me on Twitter, or share my Resources page–anything goes!
Let me know what you did in your comment, and then hop on!
I’ll e-mail my winner within 48 hours of the conclusion of the hop on May 27th. Break a leg!
Charley D, this is a great post but the original one that arrived in my inbox from you was amazing. You are some lady x
Thanks Shey! I guess if I was going to chicken out I should’ve done it sooner. 🙂
listen doll…never chicken out. People love you for what you are or they can …..go away….quite frankly . Hope you liked the polite there for your blog. But you know Charley you are fabulous whatever you say. And that is it really Sheyxx
Brilliant, sensitive and caring post. There are so many wonderful organisations out there. I wish I could help all of them in some way. Thank you. 🌈
Thanks — I feel the same way. 🙂
Great message, Charley 🙂
We only have one LGBTQ center/organization in Iceland, but it’s done a kick-ass job over the 35 years they’ve been operating. 35 years ago, LGBT people in Iceland had to flee the country because of death threats; now people speaking against LGBTQ people run the risk of getting bashed (verbally).
The number to the LGBTQ center (Samtokin 78) in Iceland is 552 7878. However, we also have a national hotline to all people who need someone to listen to (not LGBTQ exclusive): 1717 (it’s like an emergency number and they’ll help no matter what – the land code to Iceland is +354).
Thanks, Erica! I didn’t expect my first international # to be from Iceland, that’s so cool! I’ll add them both.
And thanks for the good news–it’s nice to hear!
Making people aware of all the groups that offer help and support is a wonderful thing. In fact I am going to add them to my blog, and look for some here in Toronto and helping doing whatever I can. Thats my goal so for next year I will have something spectacular to share.
Thanks for visiting, Darien! Your blog is already pretty darned spectacular! 🙂
I think that this was a great post. I know that this can be a tough topic to write on but you did a great job. Thank you for doing the hop
Thanks, Beth. I’m glad you stopped by. Have fun hopping! 🙂
Great post, Charley! I focused on The Trevor Project for my post as well, and I swear I didn’t read yours first, lol.
There isn’t a hotline for my immediate area that I can find, but I did find a resource page for my state with national and state hotlines: http://www.suicidehotlines.com/southcarolina.html They list The Trevor Project along with other resources for youth as well as seniors and military vets. Seems like a good resource.
bloodandfires (at) yahoo (dot) com
Great minds think alike! 🙂 I like your post too — can’t say enough good things about TTP. They even get high scores with Charity Navigator (62.76 out of 70).
Thanks for the addition to my list! I should amend my page to include vets too, thanks for pointing that out. 🙂
Hope you have fun on the hop!
One I’ve come across on other participants blogs is The Albert Kennedy Trust, akt.org.uk, With centres in London 020 7831 6562; Manchester 0161 228 3308; Newcastle upon Tyne 0191 281 0099
Thanks Suze! I’ve added your numbers to the list.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the hop! 🙂
I doubt I would ever have called them – knowing perfectly well that come the beginning of the month it was time for the parents to separate work calls from private calls – ohh yeah there was grilling if “unknown” numbers turned upon the bill … ahh well yes I grew up before the age of cell phones.
Sure would have been nice to have had… well I’m glad they are there and helping.
Hi Loni, thanks for your comment. The internet is good for that–no hassles over phone bills, and it’s much easier to find help when you need it. *hug*
Have a wonderful weekend!
Charley
Right down the street, The LGBT Communtiy Center of Metro St. Louis offers help, support, and resources. The number is (314) 472-5428. It’s on that cool stretch with all the rainbow flags.
Thanks for helping my list of Resource numbers grow! 🙂
Sorry I don’t have a number for you but sending you a pat on the back and an “atta girl” for your efforts.
ocanana@gmail.com
Thanks, Nancy! 🙂
Found this resource for the GLBT National Help Center serving people of all ages. They provide peer counseling, information and local resources : http://www.glnh.org/index2.html . In my state I found this link giving several numbers for suicide hotlines in the area: http://www.suicide.org/hotlines/pennsylvania-suicide-hotlines.html
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
I didn’t realize WP would see links & think the reply had to be spam. Sorry it took me so long to pull yours off moderation!
Thanks for the links! I’ll add them to the list. 🙂
Great post. In Kentucky there is not a LGBT crisis line, but there is Safe Place for all teens, providing emergency shelter, food, clothes, etc. Their 24 hour crisis and advice line is 502-635-5233.
peggy1984 (at) live (dot) com
Thanks, Peggy, this sounds like a great organization! 😀
I live in Pennsylvania and here we have the PA Diversity Network. Their number is 610-432-5449. Thank you for doing the hop!
Hi Charley, I was looking around for info to do another HAHAT post and I found a list of 20 LGBT Organizations You Need to Know: http://www.diversitybestpractices.com/news-articles/20-lgbt-organizations-you-need-know Just thought I’d share. 🙂
Thanks, Jade!
DUMFRIES
ACTS Helpline
24 Hour Helpline
(703) 368-4141
Teenline
(703) 368-8069
Spanish 6pm – 10pm M-F
(703) 368-6544
This is the nearest help center we have where I live. Thanks for all you have done.
lena.grey.iam@gmail.com
Thanks, Lena! Very cool of them to have hours when someone is there who speaks Spanish.
Hope you enjoy the long weekend! 🙂
The list is a great idea Charlie, I’m glad you’re putting it together. As for me, I recently just found a great organization AllOut (https://www.allout.org/en). It’s a worldwide organization, and it’s pretty awesome. Thanks for participating!
tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com
Oh and I like you on FB as Emily Wells and twitter as chickie434
Thanks for the link, chickie! 🙂
Hi! Thanks for being apart of this fantastic hop! Its amazing what your all doing! I live in the Watervliet, Michigan. Heres the hotline: 24 Hour Crisis Hotline- 1-800-336-0341. Thanks for sharing! Have a wonderful night!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
opps. i gave you the wrong number. heres a link with several hotlines in michigan: http://www.suicidehotlines.com/michigan.html
Here’s one that I recently heard about:
Bill DeFrank LGBT Community Center – http://www.defrankcenter.org
Thanks for participating in this great hop!
penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com
That’s ‘Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center’ not ‘Bill’. Their phone number is: 1-408-293-3040
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Hi Charley. Great post. Thanks so much for joining the HAHAT this year. Your pics aren’t showing up for me but I’m not sure if that’s just my computer or not. Have a great day. Hugs.
Eek! I accidentally linked to last year’s HAHAT post! Sorry about that–it’s fixed now so anyone jumping from my snippet post will get to the right place.
Lifeline 13 11 14 is the Suicide Prevention organisation in Australia
leetee2007@hotmail.com
Hi Charley!!! great post very useful
I live in Italy, I found this one 800.713.713
cvale1 AT virgilio DOT com
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